In the summertime, the high rarely tops 80. On the off chance that it spikes past 105 and humid, the following day is sure to bring relief with a high of 75 and a nippy wind chill. Melbourne has a nickname. The “4 seasons in a day city” . I can remember on one occasion where I woke up to an overcast and dreary sky for it to only storm by noon and and end the day with a beautiful sunset over Port Phillip.

Melbourne is an interesting place. A hipster, artsy vibe and one of the most diverse places that I’ve ever been to.

Greek, Swedish, German, South African, Sudanese, Brazilian, Chinese, Thai, Australian… There were people from literally every continent in a 500 feet radius wherever you go. I’m sure you could find an Antarctic person somewhere too…

A very expensive city but the quality of life makes up for it. Amazing weather, beautiful people and a high minimum wage. Hosting in the USA begging for tips? Not here. You’re guaranteed $18 per hour. Tips are optional.

Costs (AUD)

Poor man’s budget: $50 a day

Beer– Pint: $9

Hostel Room: $25 a day, $200 a week

Food: $15 for a bowl of curry, rice and drink

Other: Victoria Transit is 4.50 a trip.

The Nightlife

When I first came to Melbourne I had no idea what was good. Here’s some of the best in Melbs.

Melbourne- Docklands
This is a great little precinct which has plenty of bars and clubs in a smallish area. Alumbra lounge comes to mind, it’s stylish, it’s elegant, plays a good mix of music. Just head down to docklands and bounce from venue to venue.

CBD
Plenty of venues in the city, they really opened up the bar scene here and some quality venues have appeared. Boney, ABC and Trill are great on Thursdays and Fridays. Like most Melbourne venues they are mostly small bars and lounges scattered throughout the city. Just take a wander up Bourke St and you will stumble upon something that suits you.

Pharan*

The infamous Chapel Street. Take some Chap Laps, talk to some ladies and hit up some bars. Pharan has great music, affordable drinks and surprisingly a better night out than in the city. On the Windsor side, check out Blue Bar, Lucky Coq and 56 Bricks.

Fitzroy*
A bit of a clubbing scene. Laundry Bar comes to mind if you like hip-hop

Again just hop around and see what you like, expect to pay a cover charge for the larger venues, $10 – $20 depending on the time and venue. You could honestly spend a month in Melbourne and still be undecided which bar/club you want to go for the night!

Accommodation

Housing is expensive in Melbourne. The hostels tend to be really classy but will come at a price of $30 a night.. for a 12 share.

I would recommend the YHA Central on Flinders St. In fact ALL of the YHA’s are amazing. I recommend on getting a membership if you plan on staying for an extended ammount of time. But I recommend that if you’re in Melbs for more than a month, make some friends in the hostel and rent a place together. Hostel life gets stressful.

Getting Around

Portsea, Victoria

Melbourne was the first city that I’ve been to which had a legit form of transportation. You can go from anywhere to anywhere. Literally.

A ticket for a 2-hour trip is $3.50. You can take as many trips (trains, trams and busses) in those 2 hours.

Just watch out for the ticket inspectors. They’ll fine you $200 if you’re caught without a MyKi ticket.

You can go on a daytrip to Portsea or Geelong or around $10.

I’m Bored- WHAT TO DO

Some people claim that Melbourne is boring. If Melbourne is boring, you must have never been to the south (Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee), that shit is boring. Melbourne is to Sydney as San Fran is to Los Angeles. Melbourne has many cool art galleries.

Grampians National Park*- A 3 hour drive from Melbs lies some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Victoria. You can see Kookaburras, Kangaroos, Koalas and other cool ass Aussie animals. Amazing hikes with breathtaking views.

Hungry?- What to eat

Because of Melbourne’s diverse background, you can can have a traditional Nepalese curry for lunch and have a 3am American Cheeseburger at 8Bit.

Italian- Lygon Street. Go there. Some of the greatest Italian food I’ve ever had. It even comes with the over aggressive Italian guy who shoves you into his restaurant and offers to pay for your “first glass of wine”.

American- There’s not too much American food in Melbourne surprisingly. For the best burgers head to 8Bit in Footscray or in the CBD (Central Business District).

Asian– Check out Chin Chin or Longrain in the CBD.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Melbourne is the shit. If you’re young and want some new experiences, check out my guide to an Australian working holiday here.